Cannabis and leafy greens cultivation have many similarities

Added on 04 December 2024

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Cannabis and leafy greens cultivation have many similarities

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“What many people are not aware of is that the cannabis and hydroponic lettuce industry share some interesting similarities.” The degree of vertical integration is the first similarity between the businesses (see the figure below). Sonny Moerenhout, Managing Partner at Cultivators, added; “Cannabis companies have to deal with some unique challenges, from the importance of humidity control to being in charge of a vertically integrated company.”

Compared to other crops, cannabis growers are distinctively different, as the majority need to handle all the processes themselves. “Because of cannabis regulations, vertical integration is sometimes obligatory, and it allows for the required juridical oversight of the seed-to-sale process. As a result, one company will be doing everything in-house; breeding, motherstock, propagation, growing, post-harvest practices, and packaging,” said Sonny.

The difficulties with cannabis, however, might not be as unique as is commonly believed. According to Sonny, the hydro leafy green businesses are fairly comparable. “Hydroponic leafy green growers are also vertically integrated companies, doing often the germination and propagation, growing, and post-harvest (including packaging) at the same location as well.”